This is it: Fidel Castro steps aside

There's no doubt that Fidel Castro wanted to keep Cuba under his personal rule for a full 50 years. But now, 49 years into his totalitarian nightmare, he has decided to step aside. Obviously, he is near death.

He is quoted in the Castro-run newspaper Granma as saying he will not accept the position of "president" when the National Assembly "chooses" Cuba's next dictator in five days.

During his grave illness, Castro, 81, gave his 76-year-old brother Raul 19 months to take personal control of the police state, to put loyal lackeys in important posts and to remove any official he could not trust. I doubt the transition will let Raul maintain the dictatorship. Since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Cubans have been increasingly impatient for freedom and democracy, but they were willing to wait for Fidel to die, rather than directly challenge Fidel's deadly oppression.

Fidel is preparing to die. The day of the Castro slave state is nearing an end. Cuba soon will be free.

Frank Warner

Comments

[tomk59]

Whoa, Frank. Nothin's gonna change- at least not for awhile. His brother, and the whole apparatus , will still be in place.

[George]

I suspect something will change immediately. Now is the time. No sense waiting for his brother to consolidate his power.